Wire-bound crate or box blank machine.



1,1. MILLER.

WIRE BOUND CRATE OR BOX BLANK MACHINE.

. APPLICAT|ON FILED JUNE 28, 91.1.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented July 11, 1916.

I J. J. MILLER.

WXRE'BDUND CRATE OR BOX-BLANK MACHI'NE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

- Patefited Jul 'n, 1916,.

4 swims-4mm 2.

m. MILLER. WIRE BOUND CRATE 0R BOX QLANK MACHINE.

' APPLICATXON FILED NE 28, 1911;

Patented July 11, 1916.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET a m Nuw C kV n3 Av d. I 55 kit i I a. I w

uv nu AV d rwnu Aura Aura" Rita Q u A m-W nn uNIT nsTATEs ATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS J. MILLER, or ST. JOSEPH, m cnxean, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEAss1e1v1viams,. ro{ WIREBOUNDS PATENTS company, or KITTERY, v E, A.conro'aa'rxon on MAINE. I

I wmn-sounn'ona'm on BOX. BLANK MACHINE.

1 191 11 Specificati on ofLctters Patent." I Patented11,1916; M

I ppu anonmedmc 28,. 1911 seriamaessasr- 7 '0 all whomitwmg concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS J. MiLLER, .11 citizen of the United Statesof America, and resident of St. Joseph, Berrien county, Mich- 5 igan,have invented a Certain new and useful Improvement in Wire-Bound Crateor Box Blank ,Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myginventionrelates to machmm'y for making wire bound cratesor boxes ofthat particular character in which the blanks are reinforced by cleatssecured along theedges thereof, and in which the different sections ofthe foldable blank are flexibly connected together by means of bindingwires,the said wires being secured-to the veneer or other sheet materialof the blank by'the same staples that secure the said veneer or sheetmaterial to .the said cleats. v

Broadly considered, my invention contemplates a machine for makingblanks of the foregoing general character in. which a travelingwork-holder is providedffor' supporting'the cleats and veneer'inproperly spaced and crossed relation, and in which the feed mechanismfor causin the assembled-materials to move forwar in a step by stepmanner, below the staplers byfwhich' the binding 'wires and sheetsjofveneer are secured to the cleats, is provided withteeth or similar meansfor engaging the materials.v of theblank, whereby. the feeding motlon.

istransmitted through the blank or blank materials to the saidwork-holder as -di'stinguished from previous machines in which atravelingwork-holder of this character is employed for communicatingthe" feeding motionto the blank or blank materialsfas;

will hereinafter more fully appear. 40

contemplates a blank-machine of thisgen eral character in which anendless traveling v work-holder is employed for merely supporting}, andpositioning the blank' materials, I I p I f but notfor feeding the saidmaterials forward below the staplers; this feeding -mowork-holder ismoved or operated by the forward below the staplersby the actuation morefully appear.

' of the said machine.

' ployed for supporting and carrying-the I enlarged perspective of aspacing block of mounted the: castings or uprights B", C and the shafts0, audit, upon which are mounted More. specifically considered,inyinvention l "beltstravel 1n guides "or channel bars e, and

feedingnmotion of the blanks, as distin 'i guished from prior machinesin which the? blanks or blanlcmaterials are moved or fed of the saidwork-holder, as willh'ereinaft e'r In the accompanying drawingseFigureis a side elevation of a wire boun'd cr'atefor box blank machineembodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2-isva plan Fig. 3is'anenlarged detail sectional view of oneof the'hand wheels and screwthreaded shaft arrang ment for adjusting the machine for blanksofdifferent width. Fig; 4 isalongitudihalf" section on line 44 in Fig: 2.Fig. 5- is a enlarged detail cross section of on'e' 'of the endlesstraveling link belts which are emblanks or blank materials, showing alsoin- ,r crosssectlon the guide or channel ba'r upon \VlllCll thesaid lmkbelt slides. -Fig.- 6 is 'an'l the kind suitable for blanks shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 4. Fig. 7 isa view similar to'l ig. 1, sl'iowing adifferent form of my invention. v Fig. 8 isa'perspective of one of the"spacing j blocks employed on the endless traveling fjj;

work-holder of the machine shown in Fig.7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a box blank. :35

As thusillustrated, and referring to Figs' 1 to' 6,-inclusive, it will:be seen that my inf VQIltlDD. comprises a base A upon which are Dof'the' frame or body, these castings being arranged in'pairs, one ateach'side of'tl egj said base. The uprights C and D, support" the sp'rrickets c' a'ndjl for the endless link. belts E. 'llhe upper. portions ofthese linfl each chainorlink beltis composed of links whicha're providedon-their-sides with pjoc tets or' channels cto' receive the cleats 1 thebindin g wires 2 are secured, to. the blank,

tiO or step by step advancement. of the. and by'which the veneer 3 issecured ,tothe.

materials being accomplished by 'afeedingcleats 1 (see Fig. 9), arearranged'in a row on the stationary head or crossbar f, in the usualmanner, and are operated by the upper cross head f, which latter slidesup and down in the slots 7 in the upper portions of the said uprights B.A cross bar G connects the two uprights B, at a point below the I saidstaplers, and is provided with means of 110 the usual character forsupporting the blanks againstthe impact or pressure of the of the blankto move the same and the said work-holder along in a step by stepmanner.

The said feed mechanism 1s composed of.

link belts h having teeth h which on age the upper surfaces of theblanks, an which thereby move the same along, causing the saidwork-holder-to move at the same time. These link belts h are mounted onsprockets it that are suitably secured to shafts k i 21? in bearings hthat are vertically movable which extend transversely of the machine. f

ceive the sprockets for one of the belts E,

These two shafts have their ends supported in castings orbracketscarried by the frame of the machine. These bearings h are held down bysprings R the tension of which may be adjusted bysaid screws 11.,whereby the pressure of the said feed mechanism on the blanks may bevaried or regulated at will.

This feed mechanism isoperated by a ratchet devicel, connected with theshaft h nearest the staplers, the said ratchet mechanism being in turnoperated, by a pitman 2' having its lower end 'suitably connected withand operated by the main operating shaft 9. It will be understood thatthe connection of the pitmen G with the shaft 9 and the connection ofthe pitman 2'. with the shaft 9 are so relatively adjusted that the feedmechanism H is actuated to feed the. materials forward at a time whenthe staplers are elevated or away from the work. \Vhenthe motion of thesaid staplers is reversed, the feed mechanism H then stands still andthe staplers move downward to in sert staples in the blank materials.These staplers are inserted crosswise ofthe binding wires 2, and arelong enough to extend through the .veneer and into the cleats. The stepby step movement communicated to the blank materials is alsocommunicated to the work-holder consisting of the endless glink belts E,as the pressure of the feed I f the blocks K are employed, it seen Ithat the ribs 7: thereof fit the chanhelsk? in the sides of the pocketsor channels e of the link belts, and that by tightening the nuts 1:? onthe said link belts the said spacing blocks can be secured at anydesired posit 'tion in the said link belts, according to the length ofthe cleats. If the blocks J are used, then it will be seen that the ribsare not necessary, and that the tightening of the nuts 7& is notnecessary -'as the'said blocks are left loose in' the channels of theworkholder, and are easil adjusted for cleats of different lengths. helower portions of the chains or link belts h are held against theblanks, or the blank materials, by the it can be varied or regulated atwill.

The shafts 0, d and k are threaded to reand for one of the belts, H,which sprockets are controlled by hand wheels L on the shafts 0 and d,and by similar hand wheels M on the shafts h the construction in eachcase being of the cha cter shown in Fig. 3, in which it will providedwith d longitudinal groove in which a spline. is arranged to slide,which spline or feifther secures the sprocket to the shaft. The sprockethas a ho it which ro-' wheel, said hand wheel having a screwthreadedengagement with the said shaft.-

seen that each shaft is and the shaft and-sprocket and hand wheel willrotate at' any adjusted position thereof.

Thus the machine can be adjusted for an desired width of blank. Thismethod of a justrnent is, however, old'and well'known, as it has beenused in prior box blank machines, and does not require any furtherdescription.

In Fig. 7 the construction is substantiallythe same as that previouslydescribed and shown, except in this case the feed mechanism O isarranged at the delivery, end of the machine, instead of at theend-where the materials are placed on the traveling work-holder. exactlythe same vas that shown in the pre-' vious figures, and such as alreadydescribed but operates on-the finished blank instead of on the looselyassembled blank materials. The teeth of the feed mechanism 0 engage thetops of the blanks as they emerge from under the staplers, and in thiscasethe spacing blocks are preferably secured to the travelingworlcholder in order to insure against slippage between the work and theThe said feed mechanism is 100 tates in the grooved hub 11, of the handthe assembling side of the staplers, loose spacing blocks can beemployed in the manner previously. explained. But with the feedmechanism on the delivery side of the staplers it is preferable, asstated, to employspacing blocks which are secured to the chains or linkbelts E ofth'e travelingworks holder Otli'erwiseqthe two machines. are

. ing work hold'er is moved bythe blanks,.o r W by" the blank materials,v as distinguished from previous machines i which the blanks or blankmaterials are in d: by the, travel- -ing work holdeiz' Thef feedingmotion'is,

therefore, commnnicated' directly to the blanks or the blank.m'aterials.',ard.through these blaiiks'orblankinate si t me travel- Theeonst'ructi on of belts -chains"jE of the traveling work-holder canbeofany'suitable, known or approved;char j actera: As shown,fthey are ofthe kindhe'retofore' employed in machines for. making crate orboxxblanksoft'hisjkind, Guards or plates' or bars, or other like d'evices, 'ca nbe employed, for preventing the blanks or blank materials from becomingdisplaced. from the work-holder, it being common to; employ such meansfor engaging thetops of the blanksor blank materials near. the cuteredges thereof to accomplish this purpose. This, of course, is notnecessary where the blanks or blank materia-lspass under the feedmechanism H, or under the feed mechanism O, as the case may be.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a simple andfhighlyetlicient ma- 0 inc for making Wire bound crate or box "iolanks, inwhich the feedingmotion is c0m-' :municated directly to the blanks orblank materials. and not through the traveling work-holder by which thesaid materials are supported in properly spaced and crossed relation.

iVhat I claim as my invention is:

l. A machine for making wire, hound box blanks by wiring together-thesheets and cleats of the previously unconnected side sections of eachblank. comprising a pinrality of endless bclts,'i')locks i'or spacingthe adjacent ends of the'cleats at intermediate points in each blank.and at the ends of each blank, said blocks beingcarried by saidi'ltll-h'. staplers having provisions for securing the binding wires tosaid sheets and. cleats, and feed mechanism for engaging the blankmaterials to communicate the feeding motion to said blocks and belts.

2. A machine for making wire bound box blanks by wiring together thesheets and cleats of the previously unconnected side scctions of eachblank, comprising a pinrality of endless belts, blocks for spacing thean sm including teeth for 'rality of endless, belts, blocks for spacingn adjacent ehdsvof the cleats" at intermediate zpointsineach blank, andat the ends at each" blank, said blocks being carried by said belts,

adjacent ends of the cleats at intermediate belts, staplers havingprovisions for securing the binding wires to said sheets and cleats, andfeed mechanism for engaging the Y blank materials to communicate thefeeding I,

motion. tosaid blocks and belts, said mech- T anism including link beltsprovided with" I V teeth for. engaging the sheets. substantially alike.InTeachcase the travel-T blanks by-wiring'together the sheets and? lrality .of end-less belts; blocks (for spacing the adjacent ends of thecleats at intermediateipoints in each blanlc, anc l*at the ends 1 ofeach blank, said blocks beingcarriedby a 1.

said belts, staplers having provisions for sef "(tilting thebindingwires'to said sheets and 8j5x cleats, and feednie'chanism for engagingthe fplank materials to: communieatethefeeding motion to saidblocks andbelts, said mechengaging'the 11p} per surface of the sheets; v

4t. A machinefor making wire boundbbx j hlanksby wiring togetherthesheets and (ZlGfltSi-:Of the. previously unconnected sidesections ofeachblank, comprising t c.

staplers having provisions for securing the binding wires to said sheetsand cleats, and feed mechanism forengaging the blankmaterials tocommunicate the feeding motion to said blocks and belts, said beltshaving means for holding said blocks in fixedrelaa tion thereon. a

5. A machine-for making wire bound box blanks by wiring together thesheets and cleats of the previously unconnected side sections of eachblank, comprising a plurality of endless belts, blocks for spacing theadjacent ends of the cleats at intermediate points in each blank, and atthe ends of each blank, said blocksheing carried by said bclts. staplershaving provisions for secur ing the binding wiresto said sheets andcleats, and feed mechanism for engaging the blank materialstocommunicate'the feeding] motion to said blocks and belts, said mechanismhaving means for engaging the sheets. 6. A machine for making wire boundbox blanks by wiring together the sheets and cleats of the previouslyunconnected side sections of each blank. comprising a pln rality ofendless belts, blocks forspacing the adjacent ends of the cleats atintermediate points in each blank.*and at the ends of each blank, saidblocks being carried by said belts, staplers having provision forsecuring the binding wires to said sheets and cleats, and feed mechanismfor engaging the 3. A machine formaking wire bound .box.,

rality of endless belts,

mljacent ends of the cleats at intermediate points in each'blank, and atthe ends ofeach blank, said blocksbeing carried by said belts, staplershaving provision for securing the bindingwires to said sheets andcleats, and feed mechanism for engaging the blank materials tocommunicate the feeding motion to said blocks and belts, the arrangementbeing such that said belts are stationary except when actuated by saidmechanism.

8. A machine for making Wire bound box blanks by wiring together thesheets and cleats of the prmionsly unconnected side sections of eachblank. comprising a phirality of endless belts, blocks for spacing theadjacent ends of the cleats at intermediate points in each blank, and atthe .ends of each blocks for spacing the blank, said blocks beingcarried by said belts, staplers having provision for securing thebinding Wires to said sheets and cleats, and feed mechanism for engagingthe blank materials to communicate the feeding motion to said blocks andbelts, said mechanism being so constructed and arrz'inged to engage onesection before disengaging another section. 9. A machine for making Wirebound box blanks by wiring together the sheets and cleats of thepreviously unconnected side sections of each blank, comprising aplurality of endless belts provided with means to space the blanksections devices to apply the binding wire to.the sections, and feedmechanism for engaging the blank materials to propel the same and saidbelts in unison. Signed by me at St. Joseph, Michigan, this 29th dayof-May, 1911.

JULIUS J. MILLER.

Witnesses ANTHONY CANAVAN, MATTHIAS WEBER.

